Valve for artificial respiration apparatus

ABSTRACT

A valve for an artificial respiration apparatus formed by a tubular member and wall members extending radially therefrom and forming an annular chamber at one end of the tubular member. A diaphragm is secured within the annular chamber and extends across the tubular member, within the tubular member the diaphragm has a wedge-shaped configuration with a slot at its end. Exhaust openings are provided through the wall members. When the valve is used in administering oxygen to a person, the slit in the diaphragm opens permitting the oxygen to flow therethrough. However, when the person exhales, the slit in the diaphragm is closed and the exhaled air passes between the diaphragm and the tubular member into the annular chamber and then out through the exhaust openings. The exhaust openings are provided with covers at the exterior of the valve so that air can only pass outwardly.

United States Patent [72 Inventor Asmund Sigurd Laerdal Stavanger,Norway [21] Appl. No. 812,557

{22] Filed Mar. 26, 1969 Which is a continuation of Ser. No. 464,098,June 15, 1965, abandoned.

[45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [32] Priority June 15, 1964 [33] Norway [311 153,649

[54] VALVE FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Primary Examiner-William F. O'DeaAssistant Examiner-Richard Gerard t ABSTRACT: A valve for an artificialrespiration apparatus formed by a tubular member and wall membersextending radially therefrom and forming an annular chamber at one endof the tubular member. A diaphragm is secured within the annular chamberand extends across the tubular member, within the tubular member thediaphragm has a wedge-shaped configuration with a slot at its end.Exhaust openings are provided through the wall members. When the valveis used in administering oxygen to a person, the slit in the diaphragmopens permitting the oxygen to flow therethrough. However, when theperson exhales, the slit in the diaphragm is closed and the exhaled airpasses between the diaphragm and the tubular member into the annularchamber and then out through the exhaust openings. The exhaust openingsare provided with covers at the exterior of the valve so that air canonly pass outwardly.

a and the diaphragm itself has 1 VALVE FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATIONAPPARATUS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 464,098, filedJune I5, 1965, and since abandoned,

The present invention relates to a valve for an artificial respirationapparatus which comprises a valvebody which has a central inlet passagethrough which air or oxygen may be conducted in one direction to thelungs of a patient, and which contains a flexible diaphragm for closingthis inlet passage when the patient exhales the air through the valve inthe opposite direction. Adjacent to this diaphragm, the valve body hasat least one lateral opening for discharging the exhaled air,

a normally substantially wedgeshaped extension, the outer end 'of whichforms a narrow edge and is provided ,with a slot which is normallyclosed, but opened when air or oxygen entering through the inlet passagepasses through this slot toward the lungs of the patient.

There is a known valve of the above-mentioned type which has thedisadvantage that, if the breathing passages of the patient areseriously obstructed, the fresh air or oxygen will not pass into thelungs of the patient, butwill flow out through the lateral opening whichis provided for'dischargingthe air which is exhaled by the patient. Theperson operating the respiration apparatus may then assumeerroneouslyjthat the patient is continuously supplied with fresh air oroxygen, although actually this air or oxygen escapes uselessly to theoutside.

, It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved valveof the above-mentioned type which does not permit the fresh air oroxygen to escape to the outside when the breathing passages of a patientare considerably obstructed, but which insures that, as soon as thepatient again starts to breathe, the spent air which the patient exhaleswill be immediately discharged to the outside. This object is attainedaccording to the invention by providing the valve body adjacent to thesubstantially wedgehaped extension of the diaphragm with an annularshoulder in whichseveral outlet apertures are provided through which theair which is" exhaled by the patient flows to the outside, and byproviding the diaphragm with a corresponding shoulder which extendsoutwardly from the wedge-shaped extension and is pressed by the pressureof the fresh air or oxygen against the inside of the shoulder of thevalve body so that the out let apertures are thereby closed and thefreshair or oxygen is prevented from escaping to the outside. If thevalve according to the invention is for example, connected to acompressible elastic bag into which fresh air or oxygen is alternatelydrawn and then expelled therefrom through the valve, this bag cannot becompressed since the air or oxygen cannot escape therefrom if thebreathing passages of the patient are too obstructed to permit this airor oxygen to be forced into his lungs. The mere fact that the tightlyfilled bag cannot be compressed is therefore a clear indication that thebreathing passages of the patient are too obstructed to permit fresh airor oxygen to be passed into his lungs, if, however, the patient suddenlystarts to breathe and to exhale spent air, the strong pressure of theexhaled air not only closes theslot in the wedge-shaped extension of thediaphragm so that the spent air cannot pass into the elastic bag, but italso lifts the shoulder of the diaphragm off the inner side of theshoulder of the valve body so that the outlet apertures of the latterare uncovered and the air which is exhaled by the patient can flowfreely through these apertures to the outside.

The inner edge of the shoulder of the valve body may be designed so asto form a valve seat on which the shoulder of the diaphragm will engageat all times during the operation of the valve, except when the patientexhales, so as to seal the valve chamber tightly toward the outside.According to another feature of the invention, this shoulder of thevalve body is preferably designed so that its inner annular edgeprojects slightly in the axial direction beyond the plane of the innersurface of the shoulder itself and thus toward the shoulder of thediaphragm. This has the advantage that, when fresh air or oxygen passesthrough the valve from the elastic bag, the shoulder of the diaphragmwill not only be applied more reliably against the valve seat itselfwhich is formed by theprojecting annular edge of the shoulder of thevalve body, but that the shoulder of the flexible diaphragm will theneven enfold this projecting annular edge. This is due to the fact thatthe surface area of the flexible diaphragm which is acted upon by thepressure of the fresh air or oxygen is considerably larger than thesurface area of the valve seat. The sealing effect will therefore beattained not only by the engagement of the diaphragm with the actualvalve seat itself, that is, the projecting annular end surface of theshoulder of the valve body, but also by the engagement of the diaphragmwith the lateral sides of this projecting valve seat. Consequently,there is not possibility that even a part of thefresh air or oxygen fromthe elastic bag might escape to the outside in the event that it cannotbe forced into the lungs of the patient because of a considerableobstruction of his breathing passages.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become moreclearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof whichis to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

H6. 1 shows an axial section of a valve according to the invention inthe inactive position;

H6. 2 shows a cross section which is taken along the line ll-ll of HO.1;

FIG. 3 shows an axial section of the valve according to FIG. I in theposition when air or oxygen is being blown through the valve; while FIG.4 shows an axial section of the valve according to H6. 1 in the positionwhen spent air which is exhaled by a patient is being discharged throughthe valve to the outside.

Referring to the drawings, the valve according to the inventioncomprises a valve body which consists of two parts 1 and 2 which arescrewed together at 3. Both of these parts 1 and 2 are provided withouter angular flanges 4 and 5, the ends of which face each other and areseparated by an annular gap 6 into which the edge portion around anopening of an elastic bag of an artificial respiration apparatus, notshown, may be inserted and tightly clamped by the flanges 4 and 5. Whenthis bag is being compressed, the air or oxygen contained therein maynormally be expelled through the valve and the connecting tube of a facemask so as to pass into the lungs of the patient carrying this mask. Thetwo parts 1 and 2 of the valve body may consist of a transparentthermoplastic. Part 1 of the valve body is provided with inlet apertures7 for the fresh air or oxygen which is expelled from the elastic bag,while the part 2 is provided with a tubular extension 8 which is to beconnected preferably by a flexible tube, to the face mask which isapplied at least over the mouth and nose of the patient. The upper wallof the part 2 which carries the tubular extension 8 forms on the latteran annular shoulder 9 in which a plurality of outlet apertures 10 areprovided which are covered on the outer side by an elastic ring 20, forexample. of rubber, which is connected at its inner edge to the valvebody. The lower inner edge of the wall of the tubular extension 8 and ofthe shoulder 9 projects slightly beyond the inner surface of theshoulder itself into the valve chamber 12 and forms an annular valveseat 11.

The valve chamber 12 contains a diaphragm of an elastic plastic which istightly secured and sealed along its peripheral edge at 14 to the lowerpart 1 of the valve body. This diaphragm 13 has an annular shoulder 15to which a wedgeshaped extension 16 is connected which terminates into asmall slot 17 which is normally closed. When the valve is in itsinactive position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular shoulder 15 ofthe diaphragm 13 engages upon the annular valve seat 11. i

If the elastic bag to which the valve is connected is being compressed,the air or oxygen contained in this bag flows in the direction as shownby the arrows 18 in FIG. 3 through the apertures 7 and through the slot17 which is thereby opened automatically, and then to and through theface mask into the lungs of the patient. The pressure of the air oroxygen not only opens the slot 17 but also presses the annular shoulder15 against and around the annular valve seat 11 so that not only theinner side of the diaphragm 13 but also the inside of the tubularextension 8 of the valve body are closed toward the outlet apertures 10and thus to the outside. If the breathing passages of the patient are soseriously obstructed that no air or oxygen will flow into his lungs, theelastic bag will remain in the tightly filled condition. This factimmediately indicates to the person who operates the respirationapparatus that no air or oxygen is forced into the lungs of the patientor is inhaled by the patient.

lf, however, the patient again starts to breathe, the spent air which heexhales flows in the direction of the arrows 19, as shown in FIG. 4, andthereby closes the slot 17 and presses the diaphragm 13 downwardly intothe position according to FIG. 4, whereby its annular shoulder 15 isseparated from the annular valve seat 11 and also from the inner wall ofthe tubular extension 8 and the shoulder 9 of the valve body so that thespent air may then pass freely through the apertures 10 to the outsideby lifting the elastic ring 20. Since the slot 17 is then tightlyclosed, the spent air cannot pass into the elastic bag to which thevalve is connected.

if because of unforeseen reasons an underpressure occurs at the side ofthe valve which is normally the pressure side, the patient will beprotected from inhaling the outside air which might be contaminated orharmful for other reasons, since the outlet apertures 10 through whichsuch air could possibly flow are then covered up and tightly closed bythe elastic ring 20.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with referenceto the preferred embodiment thereof, 1 wish to have it understood thatit is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capableof numerous modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

lclaim:

l. A valve for an artificial respiration apparatus for supplying air oroxygen into the lungs ofa patient, comprising an axially extendingtubular member forming a passageway extending between a first opening atone end of said tubular member and a second opening at the opposite endthereof, a first wall member connected to and extending radiallyoutwardly from said tubular member at said one end thereof, a flatsecond wall member disposed in spaced parallel relationship with andsecured to said first wall member and forming therewith an annularchamber laterally encircling said one end of said tubular member and incommunication with the passageway therethrough, said second wall memberlocated adjacent to and axially outwardly from the first opening of saidtubular member, said second wall member extending transversely acrosssaid one end of said tubular member and having at least one centrallylocated aperture therethrough for admitting air or oxygen into the valvefor flow through said passageway, an annular valve seat formed by thejuncture of said tubular member and said first wall member, a resilientdiaphragm extending transversely across said passageway through saidtubular member, said diaphragm having an inactive position and aplurality of valving positions within said passageway, said diaphragmcomprising a radially outer annular shaped first section positionedwithin said annular chamber between the parallel surfaces of said firstand second wall members and secured at its radially outer peripherybetween said first and second wall members and arranged to engage saidvalve seat in one of said valving positions of said diaphragm and asecond section disposed radially inwardly of and attached to said firstsection and positioned across said passageway in axial alignment withsaid aperture in said second wall member, at least a portion of thesurface of said second section arranged to form a normally closedorifice when said diaphragm is in the inactive position and said secondsection arranged in one said valving position to be displaced in thedirection of said second opening from the inactive position for openingsaid orifice and in another said valving position to be displaced in theopposite direction from the inactive position for closing said orificeand in such position saidfirstsection of said diaphragm is in contactwith and supported by said second wall member, exhaust openings in saidfirst wall member communicating between said annular chamber and theexterior of said valve, said diaphragm being responsive to fluidpressure differentials in said chamber for movement between thedifferent valving positions, whereby in the passage of air or oxygenthrough said aperture in said second wall member to said second openingsaid diaphragm contacts the valve seat closing off the passage betweensaid second opening and said exhaust openings and opening theorifice insaid diaphragm for providing flow of air or oxygen to and through thesecond opening in said tubular member, and if the flow through the valveis reversed entering said second opening the orifice in said diaphragmis closed and the reverse flow passes through the passageway between theside of said diaphragm facing said second opening and said tubularmember and entering into said annular chamber and exiting through theexhaust openings in said first wall member.

2. A valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second section of saiddiaphragm has a wedge-shaped configuration secured about its radiallyouter periphery to the inner periphery of said first section andextending therefrom axially through said passageway toward said secondopening with said orifice therein located at the end of said secondsection adjacent said second opening.

3. A valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein means are arranged forclosing said exhaust openings against the flow of fluid into saidchamber from the exterior of said valve but permitting reverse flowthrough said exhaust openings.

4. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second wallmembers are formed of a transparent thermoplastic material whereby thedisposition of the diaphragm within the chamber formed by said wallmembers can be viewed from the exterior of said valve.

5. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein means are secured to saidfirst and second wall members for attaching an elastic bag of anartificial respiration apparatus thereto for supplying air or oxygen tothe aperture through said second wall member for its passage through thevalve.

6. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second wallmembers are threaded into engagement with one another.

7. A valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular valve seatcomprises a protuberance extending in the axial direction of saidpassageway from said first wall member toward said second wall member.

8. A valve, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said protuberance beingpositioned adjacent said one end of said passageway and extendingtherefrom toward said diaphragm.

9. A valve, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the radially inner surfaceof said protuberance being coextensive with the inner surface of saidpassageway.

1. A valve for an artificial respiration apparatus for supplying air oroxygen into the lungs of a patient, comprising an axially extendingtubular member forming a passageway extending between a first opening atone end of said tubular member and a second opening at the opposite endthereof, a first wall member connected to and extending radiallyoutwardly from said tubular member at said one end thereof, a flatsecond wall member disposed in spaced parallel relationship with andsecured to said first wall member and forming therewith an annularchamber laterally encircling said one end of said tubular member and incommunication with the passageway therethrough, said second wall memberlocated adjacent to and axially outwardly from the first opening of saidtubular member, said second wall member extending transversely acrosssaid one end of said tubular member and having at least one centrallylocated aperture therethrough for admitting air or oxygen into the valvefor flow through said passageway, an annular valve seat formed by thejuncture of said tubular member and said first wall member, a resilientdiaphragm extending transversely across said passageway through saidtubular member, said diaphragm having an inactive position and aplurality of valving positions within said passageway, said diaphragmcomprising a radially outer annular shaped first section positionedwithin said annular chamber between the parallel surfaces of said firstand second wall members and secured at its radially outer peripherybetween said first and second wall members and arranged to engage saidvalve seat in one of said valving positions of said diaphragm and asecond section disposed radially inwardly of and attached to said firstsection and positioned across said passageway in axial alignment withsaid aperture in said second wall member, at least a portion of thesurface of said second section arranged to form a normally closedorifice when said diaphragm is in the inactive position and said secondsection arranged in one said valving position to be displaced in thedirection of said second opening from the inactive position for openingsaid orifice and in another said valving position to be displaced in theopposite direction from the inactive position for closing said orificeand in such position said first section of said diaphragm is in contactwith and supported by said second wall member, exhaust openings in saidfirst wall member communicating between said annular chamber and theexterior of said valve, said diaphragm being responsive to fluidpressure differentials in said chamber for movement between thedifferent valving positions, whereby in the passage of air or oxygenthrough said aperture in said second wall member to said second openingsaid diaphragm contacts the valve seat closing off the passage betweensaid second opening and said exhaust openings and opening the orifice insaid diaphragm for providing flow of air or oxygen to and through thesecond opening in said tubular member, and if the flow through the valveis reversed entering said second opening the orifice in said diaphragmis closed and the reverse flow passes through the passageway between theside of said diaphragm facing said second opening and said tubularmember and entering into said annular chamber and exiting through theexhaust openings in said first wall member.
 2. A valve, as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said second section of said diaphragm has awedge-shaped configuration secured about its radially outer periphery tothe inner periphery of said first section and extending therefromaxially through said passageway toward said second opening with saidorifice therein located at the end of said second section adjacent saidsecond opening.
 3. A valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein means arearranged for closing said exhaust openings against the flow of fluidinto said chamber from the exterior of said valve but permitting reverseflow through saiD exhaust openings.
 4. A valve as set forth in claim 1,wherein said first and second wall members are formed of a transparentthermoplastic material whereby the disposition of the diaphragm withinthe chamber formed by said wall members can be viewed from the exteriorof said valve.
 5. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein means aresecured to said first and second wall members for attaching an elasticbag of an artificial respiration apparatus thereto for supplying air oroxygen to the aperture through said second wall member for its passagethrough the valve.
 6. A valve as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second wall members are threaded into engagement with oneanother.
 7. A valve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular valveseat comprises a protuberance extending in the axial direction of saidpassageway from said first wall member toward said second wall member.8. A valve, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said protuberance beingpositioned adjacent said one end of said passageway and extendingtherefrom toward said diaphragm.
 9. A valve, as set forth in claim 7,wherein the radially inner surface of said protuberance beingcoextensive with the inner surface of said passageway.